Transfer apparatus



bet. 2a, 1969 -,J. F. GILEWSKI I 3,474,800

TRANSFER APPARATUS Law INVENTOR. ddSEP/v f1 G/AENJJF/ 28, 1969 J.F. GILEWSKI TRANSFER APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1966 INVENTOR. M05677, E W/EMSYI' ate.

rrafA//j Oct. 28, 1969 J. F. GILEWSKI TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed Nov. 21, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 QMW 1969 J- nemawsm 3,474,800

TRANSFER APPARATUS I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent ice 3,474,800 TRANSFER APPARATUS Joseph F. Gilewski, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to- Electrical & Mechanical Service Co. of Michigan, Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 595,922 I Int. Cl. 1308b 3/00; 1366c 17/00; B65g 61/00 US. Cl. 134-46 2 Claims ABSTRACT on THE DISCLOSURE A transfer apparatus patticularly'adapted for transferring. plating racks from one bath'to another having means to 'grasp the rack and move it upwardly and downwardly, rotatably, and linearly between baths. The apparatus is activated and runs in response'to a predetermined program during a given transfer cycle. The cycle is initiated by removal ofone of the racks from the bath for transfer to the other bath. I

This invention relates to automatic transferring devices and, more particularly, to automatic transferring devices particularly adapted to transfer objects automatically from one position to a second position. In its more limited aspects, this inventionrelates to a transfer device particularly adapted to transfer objects being electroplated from one electroplating tank into a second electroplating tank automaticallyupon completion of the initial electroplating process.

Modern production techniques often necessitate the transfer of the article being manufactured from one operative assembly into or onto a second operative assembly whereby the manufacturing process may be continued. Traditionally, such transfers have been executed primarily by hand, reliance being placed upon manually actuated hoists and dollies in the event that the object was too heavy to be lifted. As production capacities are increased, the necessity of making such hand transfers tends to slow the manufacturing process and, thus, reduce the efficiency with which a particular article may be I fabricated. Additionally, themere necessity of providing men to handle such transfer operations results in increased overhead and, thus, markedly effects the manufacturing costs on theparticular goods. 7

A somewhat independent drawback of the hand transferring process is presented by the fact that a number of consumers absolutely refuse to purchase certain types of goods unless their entire fabrication has been executed out mechanically. The reasons for such refusals stem mainly from quality control standards. Assume, for example, that the particular article being fabricatcd is a door handle for an automobile and that the process under consideration is the electroplating thereof. In order to insure that the particular handle has satisfactory wear characteristics, a number of separate platings of different metals are placed upon the raw part. Once the plating steps have been completed, it is virtually impossible to ascertain whether the required number and types of plating have been placed on the object and beneath the outer finished surface thereof. Most automobile manufacturers, therefore, require that such electroplating processes be carried out in continuousassembly-linefashion and'refuse. to accept parts that have been manipulated by hand during fabrication. Thus, if a particular manufacturer wishes to furnsh acceptable components, it is necessary that he have a single step-by-step electroplating tank having a sufficient number of separate baths to complete the various 'platings in a single automatic operation. I

The drawbacks of this arrangement are evident. A tank with the required number ofbaths or sectionalized electroplating' areas is extremely bulky and renders efiicient utilization of floor space nearly impossible. This, of'

course, reduces the over-all etiiciency of the fabrication process and, thus, adds markedly to the cost of the fabricated component.

It is an object of this invention to provide a transferring device capable of accurately and positively transferring objects from one position to a second position within a fabrication distribution or other type of plant.

10 provide such a device which is capable of executing any desired sequence of lift, rotate and slide motions during the transferring process'as a means of orienting the compon'ent being transferred at the second position such that the fabrication thereof or other type of operation thereo may be continued.

It is an object of this of the type described which is capable of completely automatic operation, thus eliminating the necessity of 2 providing a worker to individually supervise and execute each transfer process.

lt is an object of this invention to provide a device of the type described which permits-systematic execution of the various steps of the fabrication or other process being executed with maximum eificiency and minimum overhead.

' ,device'of the type described particularly adapted to transfer articles being electroplated from a first electroplating tank to a second electroplating tank without the necessity of manually intervention.

Similarly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device whereby a prescribed electroplating process may be executed upon a particular article without manual intervention and without the utilization of a continuous space and components.

These and other objects of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art with reference to the following specification and accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a broken, side-elevational view of the trans- I fer mechanism; a

FIG. 2 is a broken, cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1; a FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III- -III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-- IV of FIG; 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the transfer device in an electroplatingenvironment showing the manner in I which the device may be programmed to perform a de sired sequence of steps during the transfer operation;

FIG. 6 is a schematic, side-elevational view of a plating rack suitable for use in the plating environment shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic,front-elevational view of the plating rack shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic. diagram of a typical hydraulic circuit which may be utilized to power the transfer device;

Patented Oct. 28, 1969 More particularly, it is an object of this invention to invention to provide a device It is yet another object of this invention to provide a tank, thus permitting eflicient utilization of available floor l depending downwardly therefrom. Means are provided for rotating the support means with resect to the carriage and for engaging the object to be moved at the lower extremity of the lift means.

A plurality of position sensing switches are provided for sensing the relative position of the engaging section of the transfer apparatus with respect to the rail means and the carriage. These sensing means preferably take the form of conventional limit switches. By wiring the limit switches and the various transfer apparatus actuating means in proper sequence, the transfer device may be programmed to execute any desired transfer operation.

In its more limited aspects, this invention comprises a transfer device of the type described above operatively associated with a pair of electroplating tanks and arranged such as t automatically transfer the plating racks upon which the articles to be plated are suspended between the tanks upon initiation of the proper transfer sequence by the plating apparatus in the first tank. Conveniently, the rack conveying apparatus within the second tank may be wired directly into the circuit to render the transfer and plating operation completely automatic.

Referring now to the figures, a preferred embodiment of this invention will be described in detail. FIGS. 1 through 4 illustrate the structural characteristics of a preferred embodiment of the transfer device per se. The reference numeral indicates the ceiling or other stationary wall of the enclosure within which the transfer device is to be operated. A pair of parallel rails 12 are supported from the ceiling by suitable rail support brackets 11 as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Slidably mounted upon rails 12 is the carriage assembly which comprises an upper plate 21 suitably journalled for sliding movement along rails 12 by means of longitudinal slide bearings 22. Upper plate 21 has a pair of supports 23 depending therefrom which are stabilized by suitable reinforcing gussets 24. A circular track plate is afiixed symmetrically to the lower extremities of depending supports 23 by any suitable means such as cap screws. Track plate 25 has a circular aperture 28 at its center, the purpose of which will become obvious hereinafter.

Mounted to the side of one of the depending supports 23 is a hydraulic motor 26 having a shaft 27. Hydraulic motor 26 functions, when activated, to rotate the turntable assembly 40 with respect to the carriage 20. Depending upon the particular transfer environment within which the apparatus is used, the rotational displacement of hydraulic motor 26 may be confined by means of suitable stops within predetermined limits.

The carriage assembly 20 is slid along the rails 12 by means of slide assembly 30. The slide assembly 30 comprises a depending ceiling or wall bracket 31 having one extremity of a two-way ram cylinder 32 alfixed thereto. The connecting rod 33 of the ram cylinder 32 is similarly afiixed to a suitable bracket 34 depending from upper plate 21 on carriage assembly 20. As will be apparent from an examination of FIGS. 1 and 2, the expansion of ram cylinder 32 causes the carriage assembly 20 to move along rails 12 to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 and the retraction thereof causes movement in the opposite direction.

The turntable assembly comprises a circularrsupport plate 41 having a somewhat larger radius thanzithat of circular track plate 25. Support plate 41 has a plurality of upstanding members 42 about its outer periphery onto which are affixed a series of rollers 43 by means of suitabe shafts 44. As will be obvious from an examination of FIGS. 1 through 3, rollers 43 function to rotatably support plate 41 with respect to track plate 25 such that load forces on the lower plate are transferred by the contacting surfaces of the rollers 43 onto the upper plate 25 and thence to the overhead rails 12.

Support plate 41 has a central hub 45 which protrudes through aperture 28 in track plate 25. As shown best in FIG. 3, hub 45 is connected for rotation with shaft 27 of hydraulic motor 26 by means of a suitable key 46. Thus, as motor 26 is activated. the turntable assembly 40 rotates with respect to carriage assembly 20. The turntable suspension arrangement prevents the transmission of load forces through shaft 27, thus, insures that motor 26 will not be sujected to undue wear.

Depending from turntable assembly 40 is the cylinder assembly which comprises a conventional jacket or cylinder 51 having retaining sleeves S4 and reinforcing rods 55. The reinforcing rods 55 have extended extremitieswhich permit the cylinder to be atfixed to assembly plate 52 and lower support plate 53. Assembly plate 52 is affixed to the lower plate 41 of turntable assembly 40 by any conventional means such as cap screws 58. if necessary, additional support may be gained by use of supporting rods 56 which run from the peripheral under surface of turntable plate 41 to the corners of lower support plate 53. The number and size of exterior support rods 56 which are utilized in a given transfer apparatus, will depend, of course, on the environmental conditions within which the apparatus is to be utilized.

Attixed to the free extremity of rod 57 of cylinder 50 is a support platform assembly indicated generally by the reference numeral 60 comprising a. platform member 61 suitably aflixed to the rod 57. Platform 61 is restrained from radial displacement with respect to cylinder 50 by means of a stabilizing rod 62 which is slidably journalled in bearings and 66. Slide bearing 65 is positioned by means of a pair of vertical straps 63 mounted in suitable blocks 64 positioned beneath and afiixed to assembly plate 52 and above and affixed to support plate 53. Straps 63 additionally, lend vertical strength to the cylinder assembly. As platform 60 is lowered and raised by the expansion and retraction of cylinder'50, stabilizing rod 62 slides within slide bearings 65 and 66.

In actual operation, some type of means for engaging the object to be moved must be afiixed to platform 61. Depending upon the particular type of operating environment, these means might comprise, for example, a set of jaws, a. hook or any type of operative components adapted to mate with the object to be moved and suspended therefrom for transferral to a predetermined location.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 9, the operation of a preferred embodiment of the transfer device will be described in an electroplating environment. In FIG. 5 there is illustrated schematically a Hansen Van-Winkle automatic plating unit, indicated generally by the reference numeral 80; a secondplating bath, indicated generally by the reference numeral 87; and the transfer device indicated generally by the reference numeral 70. The transfer device is affixed to the ceiling of the enclosure by means of rails 12 so as to be operative to transfer the articles being plated from the automatic plating unit to the plating bath 87.

In the Hansen Van-Winkle unit, the plating process is executed sequentially by dipping the parts to be plated into adjacent baths. The baths extend in oval fashion in a direction indicated by the arrows 73 and well-known means are provided for sequentially stepping the parts from bath to bath. Bath 87 may be of continuous type and may extend in the direction indicated by the arrows 74 (i.e., into and out of the paper).

During the plating process, the goods are placed on racks 90 such as that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The rack 90 comprises a body section 94 having vertical supports 96 and horizontal supports suitably connected together. Extending in opposite directions from each of the horizontal supports 95 are a plurality of work support spikes 91 upon which the parts to be plated are hung.

A pair of cars or tabs 96 extend upwardly from the top of the uppermost support. The upper extremities of these tabs form two pairs of opposed, generally U-shaped, grips 92 and 93. Grips 93 are adapted to hang over on the rack support 86 in plating conveyor 80 and the conveyor member 89 in plating conveyor 87 and thus, support the rack thereon. Grips 92 are adapted to hang over cylindrical rod 72 which is held in fixed relation with respect to transfer device 70 by means of a horizontal arm 71 and, thus, support the rack therefrom. It will be noted that the shape of grips 92 and 93 is such that the rack 90 may be removed from is resting position by merely lifting it upwardly and moving it away from the particular support from which it has been hung.

While the loaded rack 90 is cycling through automatic plating unit 80, it is suspended by means of grips 93 on a suitable horizontal rod 86 attached to pivotable arm 84 of the plating unit. When upright 82 has completed its oval cycle around the plating bath 80, slide bearings 83 are slid upwardly along upright 82 until such time as the lower section of the rack 90 clears the facing wall 81 of the bath. At this point, hinge 85 straightens and causes rack 90 to be swung over facing wall 81 of the bath and lowered adjacent the exterior surface thereof through coaction of the hinge and linear movement of bearings 83. Transfer device 70 has been prepositioned such that the grips of 94 of the rack engage the horizontal rod 72 as pivotable arm 82 lowers, causing the weight of the rack to thereafter be borne by the transfer device 70. Ann 84 continues downwardly out of engagement with grips 93 to a rest position upon upright post 82. It maintains this position until the transfer operation has been completed. The striking of pivotable arm 84 against limit switches 101 and 109 on upright 82 initiates the automatic transfer of the rack from bath 80 to bath 87 by transfer device 70.

By way of clarification, it should be pointed out that all of the components to the right of upright 82, as viewed in FIG. 5 are well-known in the art. In previous electroplating operations, once the rack has been swung adjacent the exterior surface of the forward wall of the bath, it has been manually transferred to the next plating bath by suitable means such as a hydraulic hoist.

The reference numerals 101 through 113 in FIG 5 indicate the positions of limit switches on the various components of the transfer device. Referring additionally to FIGS 8 and 9, as arm 84 drops down onto upright 82 it closes limit switch 101 and opens switch 109. This activates the coil of latching relay 121, which, in turn, causes those contacts 122 of the latching relay which were previously closed (indicated by a slash across the contact symbol) to open and those contacts 122 which were previously open (indicated by the absence of a slash across the contact symbol) to close. Assuming that the manualautomatic select switch 120 has been depressed to the position shown in FIG. 9, the transfer sequence will continue automatically from this point.

By way of explanation, the symbols L1, L2, etc. on FIG. 9 indicate lights on a monitoring panel which are activated during the execution of a particular transfer step. For example, light L4 lights during the period the across solenoid coil 151 is activated; light L5 during the period rotate solenoid coil 152 is activated, etc.

Prior to the time that the pivoting arm 84 of the automatic conveyor strikes the surface of upright 82, limit switch 109 is closed and limit switch 101 is opened. Once the. switch banks 157 have been closed to route power to the unit, the hydraulic motor 140 may be activated by pressing start button 158. This activates coil 125 of the conveyor motor relay and causes its contacts 126 to latch into closed position. Motor 140 runs pump 141 (see FIG. 8) to supply hydraulic pressure in a wellknown manner to the solenoid valves 144, 145 and 146 which activate and deactivate the various hydraulic elements of the transfer device.

The opening of limit switch 109 does not effect the operation of hydraulic motor 140, since it has been latched into the circuit by relay 125. The activation of latching relay 121 (by the closing of limit switch 101) activates solenoid coil 151 of solenoid 145. This pressurizes cylinder 32 (see FIG. 1) causing the unit 70 to move to the left as viewed in FIG. 5. As the unit moves to the left, it draws the rack away from the forward wall 81 of plating bath 80 in order to provide clearance for rotation. When the transfer device has moved to the position indicated by the reference numeral 700, it contacts limit switch 102. The toggling of switch 102 stops the across motion by cutting ofl? the power to solenoid coil 151 and initiates a forward rotation motion by energizing solenoid coil 152 of solenoid 146.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the hydraulic motor 26, which rotates the lower section of the transfer device, is limited preferably to forward and reverse movement of 180. At the completion of this 180 rotation, the rack is hanging over bath 87 between the facing wall 88 and the conveyor line 89 therein. At this point, limit switch 103 closes. This activates solenoid coil 153 of solenoid 144 causing the cylinder 50 (see FIG. 1) to extend and, thus, lower the parts rack partially into the 'bath 87 as indicated by the reference numeral 70b. During this interval, switch 102 remains closed such that hydraulic solenoid coil 152 remains activated positively via motor 26 remain activated in the forward direction. This positively biases the rack into the rotational position illustrated to insure that no tendency exists for it to swing out of alignment.

When the rack reaches the position indicated by the reference numeral 70b in FIG. 5, limit switch 4 is toggled which disconnects power to solenoid coil 153 and, thus, stops the downward motion of the transfer device. At this point, switches 102, 103 and 104 are in their depressed positions, causing power to be rerouted to solenoid coil 151 which again activates cylinder 32 (see FIG. 1) to continue the movement of the transfer device to the left as viewed in FIG. 5. As the transfer unit begins this movement, switch 102 will return to its initial position, but this fluctuation will not effect the power transmission to solenoid coil 151.

When the transfer device reaches the position indicated by the reference numeral 700 and grip 93 is in vertical registry with conveyor member 89 in tank 87, limit switch 105 is depressed. This disconnects the power to solenoid 151 and, thus, discontinues the across travel of the transfer device. At the same time, the depressing of switch 105 routes power to down solenoid coil 153, which causes solenoid 144 to transmit fluid to cylinder 50 (see FIG. 1) and support rod 72 is lowered to the position indicated by the reference numeral 70d in FIG. 5. During this lowering, grip 93 catches on and engages conveyor member 89 of electroplating bath 87 and is supported hereby as rod 72 continues its downward movement and slides from engagement with grip 94 on the opposite side of the rack 90. This is the end of the forward cycle.

When the unit reaches a position indicated by the reference numeral 70d, limit switch 106 is depressed. This transmits power to relay coil 123, opening those contacts 124 which were previously closed (indicated by a slash across the contact symbol) and closing those contacts which were previously opened (indicated by the absence of a slash across the contact symbol). The closing of switch 106 also energizes the back solenoid coil 154 activating solenoid 145. As the transfer device moves to the right (FIG. 5) it depresses limit switch 112 and, thus, energizes the coil of relay 127 to close contacts 128 which start the conveyor motor 160 in tank 87 to move conveyor member 89 so as to be ready to receive another rack. The period of movement of conveyor motor 160 is preferably governed by a time relay 130 having contacts 131 but, it may also be disconnected by a suitably positioned limit switch 113.

As the transfer device moves to the right from .position 70d, it depresses switch 107 which disconnects the power to back solenoid coil 154. The depressing of limit switch 107 also energizes solenoid coils and 156. The

activation of these coils causes solenoids 144 and 146 to supply pressure to motor 26 and cylinder 50 (see FIG. 1) to cause the transfer unit to move upwardly and to rotate in a reverse direction through 180. At the end of the back rotation, limit switch 111 closes and, when the unit is all the way up, limit switch 110 closes. At this point ivot arm 84 lifts away from upright post 82 opening switch 101 and reclosing switch 109. This causes the back solenoid coil 154 to be energized and the unit moves to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 via pressure on cylinder 32 until such time as it closes switch 108.

The closing of switch 108 activates relay coil 129 which unlatches contacts 122 to stop operation of the circuit. At this point, the transfer unit is ready for a new forward cycle. At the completion of the reverse cycle of the transfer device, the series of upstanding supports 82 within tank 180 will rotate about the oval bath configuration and another rack 90 will be readied for transferal to bath 87. As soon as the plating process is completed with respect to that rack, it will be transferred to tank 87 in an identical manner.

Thus it will be seen that this invention has provided a transfer device which is capable of automatically transferring objects from one position to another. While the operative form of the invention has been illustrated in an electroplating environment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that by altering the construction of the transfer device engaging members, repositioning the limit switches and redesigning the circuits, the transfer could be adapted to automatically perform a vast number of transfer operations many of which relate to fields quite widely separated from the electroplating process. It might be desirable, for example, to replace the stops in motor 2-6 such that the unit rotated at 270 or only 90 during the transfer process. Similarly, it might be desirable to curve the tracks 12 affixed to the ceiling such that the unit was not confined to a straight line path.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described in detail, it will be obvious, as noted, to those skilled in the art that many other embodiments may be conceived without departing from the scope of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

I claim:

1. Plating apparatus comprising:

a first electroplating tank including means for removing plating racks therefrom and lowering them adjacent the outer surface thereof;

a second electroplating tank;

rail means supported above and in fixed relationship with respect to said tanks;

a carriage slideably mounted on said rail means;

means for sliding said carriage along said rail means;

support means afiixed to said carriage and rotatable with respect thereto;

means for rotating said support means with respect to said carriage;

expandable and retractable lift means depending from said support means;

means affixed to the lower extremity of said lift means for engaging said plating racks;

a plurality of position sensing means for sensing the relative positions of said carriage with respect to said rail means, said support means with respect to said carriage and said engaging means with respect to said support means whereby said rotating means, said lift means and said sliding means may be activated automatically with a predetermined program; and

means for detecting when said removing means has removed one of said racks and for thereupon initiating said predetermined program.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rack comprises grasping means protruding in opposite directions from the top thereof whereby said rack is adapted to be hung on said engaging means as said removing means lowers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,729,891 10/1929 Moore 212-128 1,83 6,444 12/1931 Carnahan 212-138 X 2,869,734 1/1959 Ernestos 214-16 X 2,980,264 4/1961 Burt et a1. 3,049,247 8/1962 Lemelson 214-164 3,247,974 4/1966 Dechantsreiter 212-128 X 3,288,309 11/1966 Fleisch 212-128 2,803,356 8/1957 Thomas. 3,119,499 1/1964 Tallquist 212-138 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,034,653 7/1953 France.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner R. J. SPAR, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

